St Maarten Cafe

When the Corner is packed, this is the place to be if you don't want to be crushed into a bar where you can't move without shoving through a horde of people. At other times, it's often sparsely populated with the occasional busy night.

The draft beer selection is decent (though not as good as Boylan or 3) but not terribly cheap compared to most other bars on the Corner. While it certainly could be a dive bar (the lack of windows definitely contributes to that feel), it's a bit too bright, the drinks are a bit too pricey, and the drinks are served in too much glass for it to be a true dive.

One major plus is that it serves food pretty late, so you can drink and eat at the same time (which can't really happen on the Corner except at maybe Littlejohn's if you get a bottle of beer from their fridge).

I usually scoff at dive bars, but the regular bartenders know all the regulars and the food is good enough for the price. Service is great.

Burgers are okay. But get the BBQ platter. It's just a superior product.

The beer selection is top notch for a bar that pretenses to be a dive bar with the requisite PBR on tap for the hipsters. The liquor selection is good enough and the bartenders are good at what they do. Serve booze.

Late night, end of the day, it's the weekend, and you have nothing better to do when all of the nice restaurants are closed - you go to Maarten's and have a drink or three. I don't live in Cville anymore, but after 9PM, really no where to go but down... to St. Maarten.

I'm on a search for the best burger in C'ville, not including chains.  Nothing wrong with some of the chains, but a local restaurant ought to be able to do a good burger.  I'm only ordering cheeseburgers with lettuce, tomato & mayo - my favorite.  I used to eat at St. Maarten's a lot and liked their food and atmosphere, but it's been a couple of years and a change in management, so I went yesterday hoping for a really good burger based on the other reviews.

Unfortunately, the place isn't what it used to be.  I appreciate the "dive" look, but the restaurant needs a cleaning and some new ceiling tiles at least.  There's a leftover smell from when smoking used to be allowed.  The hamburger was okay, but even though it was hand-made, it wasn't anywhere near as big as the bun.  I won't be going back.